EP2271243A1 - Dispositif de nettoyage du sol doté de multiples agitateurs - Google Patents

Dispositif de nettoyage du sol doté de multiples agitateurs

Info

Publication number
EP2271243A1
EP2271243A1 EP09728975A EP09728975A EP2271243A1 EP 2271243 A1 EP2271243 A1 EP 2271243A1 EP 09728975 A EP09728975 A EP 09728975A EP 09728975 A EP09728975 A EP 09728975A EP 2271243 A1 EP2271243 A1 EP 2271243A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
agitator
brush
motor
cleaning machine
floor cleaning
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP09728975A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP2271243B1 (fr
EP2271243A4 (fr
Inventor
Greg Bilek
David Cotsmire
Jeff Louis
Ronald Kintz
Kevin Thomas
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd
Original Assignee
Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd filed Critical Techtronic Floor Care Technology Ltd
Publication of EP2271243A1 publication Critical patent/EP2271243A1/fr
Publication of EP2271243A4 publication Critical patent/EP2271243A4/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2271243B1 publication Critical patent/EP2271243B1/fr
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
    • A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
    • A47L11/4041—Roll shaped surface treating tools
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/34—Machines for treating carpets in position by liquid, foam, or vapour, e.g. by steam
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
    • A47L11/4036—Parts or details of the surface treating tools
    • A47L11/4038—Disk shaped surface treating tools
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L11/00—Machines for cleaning floors, carpets, furniture, walls, or wall coverings
    • A47L11/40—Parts or details of machines not provided for in groups A47L11/02 - A47L11/38, or not restricted to one of these groups, e.g. handles, arrangements of switches, skirts, buffers, levers
    • A47L11/408—Means for supplying cleaning or surface treating agents
    • A47L11/4083—Liquid supply reservoirs; Preparation of the agents, e.g. mixing devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B13/00—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers
    • A46B13/001—Cylindrical or annular brush bodies
    • A46B13/006—Cylindrical or annular brush bodies formed by winding a strip tuft in a helix about the body
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A46—BRUSHWARE
    • A46B—BRUSHES
    • A46B13/00—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers
    • A46B13/02—Brushes with driven brush bodies or carriers power-driven carriers

Definitions

  • the present disclosure relates generally to floor cleaning machines. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a floor cleaning machine including a plurality of agitators or brushes that contact a floor surface.
  • the present disclosure in one embodiment pertains to a floor cleaning machine that overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings inciudes a vacuum source, a base module, a suction inlet mounted to the base housing, at least one motor mounted to the base housing, at least one agitator brush supported by the base module and in fluid communication with the suction inlet and with the vacuum source.
  • the at least one agitator brush is operably connected with the at least one motor for rotation of a plurality of brushes approximately around the vertical axis to the floor surface to be cleaned.
  • the plurality of brushes can be arranged in one or two rows laterally within or around the suction inlet for contact of the bristles of the brushes with the surface of the floor to be cleaned. When there is just one row of a plurality of brushes there are present at least additional bristle bundles in at least one row arranged side by side projecting downwardly from the front of the suction inlet to be in front of the row of rotatable brushes.
  • the suction inlet is in fluid communication with the vacuum source.
  • the at least one first agitator brush is operably connected with the at least one motor.
  • the at least one first agitator brush rotates about a first axis.
  • the at least one second agitator brush is operabiy connected with the at least one motor.
  • the at least one second agitator brush rotates about a second axis, which is generally perpendicular to the first axis.
  • a further example of a floor cleaning machine that overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings includes a vacuum source, a suction nozzle, a base housing supporting the suction nozzle, a motor mounted to the base housing, at least one first agitator brush disposed in the base housing, and at least one second agitator brush disposed in the base housing.
  • the suction nozzle includes a suction inlet in fluid communication with the vacuum source.
  • the at least one first agitator brush is operably connected with the motor for rotation at a first speed.
  • the at least one second agitator brush is operably connected with the motor for rotation at a second speed, which is less than the first speed.
  • a carpet extractor that overcomes the aforementioned shortcomings includes a vacuum source, a base housing, a suction inlet supported by the base housing, a recovery tank supported by the base housing, a motor mounted to the base housing, a first agitator brush operably connected with the motor and supported by the base housing, and a plurality of second agitator brushes operably connected with the motor and supported by the base housing.
  • the suction inlet is in fluid communication with the vacuum source.
  • the recovery tank is also in fluid communication with the vacuum source.
  • the first agitator brush is disposed at a location rearward from the suction inlet.
  • the first agitator brush rotates about an approximately horizontal axis.
  • the plurality of second agitator brushes is disposed at a location rearward from the suction inlet.
  • the second agitator brushes each rotate about an approximately vertical axis.
  • FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a base module of a floor cleaning machine according to one embodiment of the present disclosure
  • FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the base module shown in FIG.
  • FIG. 3 is an enlarged upper perspective view of the forward side of an agitator assembly of the base module of FiG. 1 with a protective housing removed;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the base module of
  • FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG. 5 is an enlarged exploded view of a brush assembly for the agitator assembly of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a power transfer mechanism housed in the base module of FIG. 1 ;
  • FIG 7 is an isometric view of an alternative brush assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 8 is a bottom isometric view of the alternative brush assembly of
  • FIG 7
  • FlG 9 is a cut-away isometric view of the alternative brush assembly of
  • FIG 7
  • FIG. 10 is a top view of the alternative brush assembly of FIG 7;
  • FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the alternative brush assembly of FIG 7;
  • FIG. 12 is an isometric view of another alternative brush assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
  • FIG. 13 is a cut-away isometric view of the alternative brush assembly of
  • FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic representation of FIG. 12
  • FIG. 14 is a top view of the alternative brush assembly of FIG. 12;
  • FIG. 15 is a bottom view of the alternative brush assembly of FIG. 12;
  • FIG. 16 is an enlarged upper perspective view of the forward side of an alternative embodiment of an agitator assembly according to the present disclosure with a protective housing removed.
  • FIG. 1 shows a floor cleaning machine in the form of a base module 10 for an upright extractor style carpet cleaner. Any upper portion for an upright carpet extractor may be suitable for use in combination with the herein described base module 10, for example U.S. Pat. No.
  • Base module 10 can have as shown in FIG. 1 a lower housing 12 and an upper housing 14. However it should be understood that the base module can be a nearly flat platform or tray with or with out one or more indentations or inserts to hold components on the base module.
  • a pair of wheels 16 rotatably couple to lower housing 12 to allow for reduced friction movement along a floor surface.
  • a front housing 18 is positioned forwardly of lower and upper housings 12 and 14 and is provided to support and protect an agitator assembly 20.
  • lower housing 12, upper housing 14 and front housing 18 make up a base housing for the base module 10.
  • Front housing 18 further supports a suction nozzle 22 having a suction inlet 24.
  • front housing 18 supports an exhaust nozzle 26 having an exhaust outlet 28.
  • a vacuum source 30 is actuated that draws fluid through suction inlet 24, into suction nozzle 22, and into a recovery tank 32.
  • the fluid can be comprised of air or air with moisture and/or remnants of liquid cleaner, rinses and/or water deposited on the surface of the floor to be cleaned.
  • the moisture, and/or liquids and dirt can be removed and the air is drawn through vacuum source 30.
  • the exhaust air is then communicated to exhaust nozzle 26 to thereafter be directed onto the floor surface via exhaust outlet 28.
  • front housing 18 encloses and supports the agitator assembly 20.
  • Agitator assembly 20 is provided to agitate liquid cleaning products that are deposited on a floor surface, thereby increasing the cleaning effectiveness of the floor cleaner.
  • the deposition of these products can be through any distribution arrangement used for extractor type floor cleaning appliances.
  • one such suitable liquid distribution system is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Serial No. 12/236,811 filed September 24, 2008 entitled "EXTRACTION CLEANING APPARATUS and published as a PCT Patent Application No.
  • WO 2009/042663 which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety and especially for the liquid distribution system disclosed therein.
  • liquid can be deposited on the floor surface to be cleaned in a localized area through a sprayer 37, which can have a mode selector to change the mode of operation for the spray, e.g., fan- shaped spray mode, spot spray mode, rinse only mode, etc.
  • a light source 35 can be mounted to the base module.
  • agitator assembly 20 includes an electric motor 34 that may be selectively actuated. Motor actuation may be performed manually by the user or may be automatically controlled by on-board computer circuitry.
  • a power transfer mechanism mechanically interconnects motor 34 to a first brush assembly 38 and a second brush assembly 40.
  • motor 34 drives brush assemblies 38 and 40 simultaneously.
  • more than one motor can be provided, e.g. a first motor can drive first brush assembly 38 and a second motor can drive second brush assembly 40.
  • First brush assembly 38 can be positioned forward of second brush assembly 40 and is adapted to contact a floor surface such as a carpet. In the depicted embodiment, both brush assemblies 38 and 40 are positioned rearwardly from the suction inlet 22 and the exhaust outlet 28.
  • First brush assembly 38 includes at least one agitator brush, which in the depicted embodiment is an elongated brushroll 42, having a first (approximately horizontal) axis of rotation in relation to the surface being cleaned.
  • only one agitator brush is depicted as part of first brush assembly 38; however, more than one agitator brush could be provided such that each brush is coupled to motor 34 (or separate motors).
  • the brushroll can have an approximately cylindrical shape, if so desired.
  • brushroll 42 includes an outer surface carrying a plurality of bristle tufts or bundles 44 thereon. In the present embodiment multiple rows of such bristle tufts 44 are used. Alternatively, one or more serpentine row of bristle tufts can be provided. It should be appreciated that other configurations may be employed, such as one or more lines of bristles secured to an elongated roller.
  • brushroll 42 includes radially projecting circular flanges 46 on opposed ends. Axially outward of flanges 46, each end of the brushroil 42 includes a cylindrical boss 48 and a post 52 positioned concentric within boss 48.
  • Boss 48 and post 52 are received by end brackets 54 which act as a retaining member for retaining brushroll 42 to the base housing.
  • End brackets 54 include an inwardly protruding J-shaped projection 56 and a central boss 58 having a central bore 62.
  • boss 48 on cylindrical roller 42 is received between J-shaped protrusion 56 and central boss 58.
  • Post 52 on cylindrical roller 42 is received in bore 62. In this manner cylindrical roller 42 is carried by end brackets 54 and is free to rotate with respect thereto.
  • cylindrical roller 42 is rotated by a belt 64.
  • the belt includes a plurality of inwardly facing teeth 66 that intermesh with a toothed portion 68 of cylindrical roller 42.
  • a pair of guides 72 in the form of raised radial projections, is provided on each side of toothed portion 68 to guide belt 64 and keep it positioned on toothed portion.
  • Belt 64 is driven by a spur gear 74 connected fast with an output shaft 76 of motor 34.
  • Spur gear 74 includes a plurality of teeth on the radial outer circumferential surface thereof that intermesh with teeth 66 of belt 64.
  • second brush assembly 40 includes an upper housing 88 and a lower housing 90 that connect together and house a plurality of brushes 102.
  • upper housing 88 includes six spaced apart openings 94 each receiving a cylindrical bearing 96.
  • Rotatably received within bearings 96 are axia! shafts 98, which are retained by fasteners 100 connected with brushes 102.
  • One axle connects with an axle extension 104, for purposes to be described below.
  • the lower housing 90 includes flexible tabs 106 that are received in corresponding slots 108 in upper housing 88 for connecting the upper housing to the lower housing and for retaining the several brushes 102 between the housings.
  • Each brush 102 includes and/or connects with a spur gear 112 having, for example, ten teeth.
  • a spur gear 112 having, for example, ten teeth.
  • gear 112E rotates, which is connected with axle extension 104
  • all other gears 112A, 112B, 112C, 112D, and 112F rotate therewith.
  • each brush 102 has a vertical axis of rotation with respect to the surface being cleaned.
  • U.S. Patent No. 6,009,593 the subject matter of which is incorporated hereinto by reference, in its entirety.
  • a center hub 111 of spur gear 112 forms a hollow downwardly projecting cup 114 having a plurality of openings 116 circumscribing the bottom thereof.
  • Center hub 111 includes a bore 113, which is non-circular (such as, for example, hexagonal) in a cross-section taken normal to the vertical rotational axis. Bore 113 receives axle 98.
  • Each spur gear 112 has an upper tooth profile 118 and a lower tooth profile 120 which approximates upper profile 118; however, lower profile 120 is smaller in size and slightly indented from upper profile 118 forming an offset, In the depicted embodiment, only upper profiles 118 are intended to drivingly engage the corresponding upper tooth profile of the adjacent gear.
  • Each brush 102 includes bristle bundles 122 extending downwardly from lower tooth profile 120.
  • Each bristle bundle 122 is adapted to contact a floor surface, such as a carpet, wherein the rotating motion of brush 102 draws each bristle bundle 122 along the floor surface to effect cleaning.
  • Bristle bundles 122 may be of a soft texture so that when rotating, and in contact with the surface being cleaned, the bristle bundles bend whereby the bottom of projecting cup 114 can also contact the surface being cleaned.
  • the cleaning solution may then be dispensed through openings 116 and flow directly onto the surface being cleaned.
  • the preferred operational speed of brushes 102 is between about 500 and about 900 RPM for a brush of approximately two inches in diameter.
  • gear 112E is connected with axle extension 104, having, for example, a hexagon shaped axial cross-section.
  • Shaft extension 104 extends upwardly and is rotationaliy coupled to a power transfer mechanism that is operably coupled with motor 34.
  • the power transfer mechanism is housed in a casing, which includes a lower casing section 126 and an upper casing section 128, adapted to contain and protect the gears and moving elements of the power transfer mechanism.
  • casing sections 126 and 128 includes a plurality of bores that receive and rotatably support the various gears that will be hereinafter described.
  • axle shaft extension 104 extends upwardly from gear 112E, into the casing (not shown in FIG. 3) and is received within a hexagon shaped aperture 130 (see FIG. 6), which could be of another non-circular shape, formed through a driven spur gear 132. Consequently, as driven gear 132 rotates, shaft extension 104 rotates therewith. In turn, rotation of shaft extension 104 causes gear 112E to rotate and through the interaction of gears 112A-112F, all brushes 102 rotate. [0041] Driven spur gear 132 intermeshes with a first reduction gear 134 which is rotatably received on an axle 136 mounted in casing sections 126 and 128 (FIG. 6).
  • a second reduction gear 138 is coupled to first reduction gear 134, each of which is rotatably received on axle 136.
  • Second reduction gear 138 intermeshes with a worm gear 142 that is secured fast to motor shaft 144 so that, when actuated, motor 34 causes worm gear 142 to rotate.
  • Motor shaft 76 and 144 can be the same shaft, if desired.
  • the second reduction gear 138 rotates. This rotation is transferred to first reduction gear 134, which is in turn transmitted to driven gear 132 which is connected fast with axle shaft extension 104. In this manner, rotation of axle shaft extension 104 causes brushes 102 to rotate.
  • a single motor simultaneously drives both brush assemblies 38 and 40.
  • worm gear 142 that drives second brush assembly 40 is located on one side of the motor and spur gear 74 that drives first brush assembly 38 is located on the other side of the motor.
  • second brush assembly 40 is driven relatively slower, and, thus, with more torque, than the first brush assembly 38. This is due in large part to the use of a worm gear, and connecting gears which achieve a reduced rotational speed and, thus, greater torque. Of course any conventional gear train could be used to achieve this effect.
  • the first brush assembly rotates relatively fast because of the direct belt drive arrangement.
  • second brush assembly 40 includes upwardly projecting outer alignment posts 150 that project upwardly from upper housing 38 and each include a vertically extending elongate channel 152.
  • a central alignment post 154 also projects upwardly from upper housing 88.
  • Retaining clips 156 ⁇ a pair of retaining clips are shown in FIG. 5) are disposed on opposite sides of central alignment post 154.
  • Each retaining clip 156 includes a slotted opening 158 that extends in a vertical direction.
  • the outer alignment posts 150, the central alignment post 154 and retaining clips 156 cooperate with components found in the base housing to attach the second brush assembly 40 to the base housing in a selectively detachable manner and allows the second brush assembly 40 to float with respect to the base housing.
  • upper casing 128, which encloses the motor 34 includes elongate outer extensions 162 disposed on opposite ends of upper casing 128.
  • An elongate channel member 164 is centrally located with respect to outer extensions 162 and is disposed on a surface of the casing 128 between the elongate extensions 162.
  • Elongate channel member 164 defines an elongate vertically extending channel 166.
  • Resilient tabs 168 are disposed on opposite sides of the elongate channel member 164.
  • the outer alignment posts 152 on upper housing 88 cooperate with the outer elongate extensions 162 (FIG. 6) on upper casing 128 and elongate extensions 162 are received in channels 152.
  • central alignment post 154 on upper housing 88 (FIG. 5) is received in channel 166 defined by channel member 164 (FIG. 6) and tabs 168 ride within vertically extending slots 158 formed in retaining clips 156.
  • the second brush assembly 40 is able to float with respect to the base housing. Moreover, removal of the second brush assembly 40 is accomplished by simply pulling the second brush assembly 40 away from the casings 128 and 126. Moreover, the lower housing 90 can be removed from the upper housing 98 by maneuvering clips 106 with respect to notches 108. Accordingly, brushes 102 can except that housing 202 is configured to house the brushes in two offset rows, therefore, further description of the housing is not provided.
  • Brushes 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D, 204E, 204F and 204G connect with axial shafts (not visible, but similar to axial shafts 98 in FIG. 5) and the axial shaft of at least one brush (in the present embodiment, brush 204D), includes an extension (not visible, but similar to extension 104) that can operably couple to, and be rotated by, a motor in a similar manner to the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1 -6.
  • Each brush includes and/or connects to a spur gear similar to spur gear 112 described above, such that when brush 204D is caused to rotate, all other brushes are rotated accordingly.
  • each brush includes an approximately vertical axis of rotation with respect to the surface being cleaned.
  • the center hub of brushes can each form a hollow downwardly projecting cup 212 having a plurality of openings 214 circumscribing the bottom thereof similar to the embodiment described above.
  • Each brush 204 includes bristle bundles 224 extending downwardly such that the bristle bundles are adapted to contact a floor surface for example a carpet.
  • the rotating motion of brush 204 draws each bristle bundle 224 along the surface to effect cleaning.
  • stationary bristie bundles 225 may extend downwardly from housing 202 and agitate the carpet as agitator assembly 200 is drawn across the floor.
  • Bristle bundles 224 may be of a soft texture so that when rotating and in contact with the surface being cleaned bristle bundles 224 bend whereby the bottom of projecting cup 212 is in contact with the surface being cleaned.
  • the cleaning solution may then be dispensed through openings 214 and flow directly onto the surface being cleaned.
  • Gear housing 202 which also acts as a gear guard for example can further include seven spaced apart, integrally molded, cylindrical bearings 206A, 206B, 206C, 206D, 206E, 206F and 206G.
  • Bearings 206 Rotatingly received within bearings 206 are axial shafts 208A, 208B, 208C, 208D, 208E, 208F and 208G of gear brushes 204A, 204B, 204C, 204D 1 204E, 204F and 204G.
  • the axial shaft of at least one brush gear (in the present embodiment, brush gear 204D), includes an extension 210 that may be coupled to, and rotated by, a motor assembly (not shown).
  • shield 78 is pivoted away from belt 64.
  • shield 78 is secured at one end to front housing 18 (FIG. 1 ) to allow for pivoting relative motion. The other end may be detachably secured to front housing 18 or can be supported by first brush assembly 38.
  • End brackets 54 are rotatably connected with brushroll 42.
  • front housing 18 includes retaining slots 170 on opposed sides thereof that are adapted to receive end brackets 54.
  • Such end brackets can have a one or more bristle bundles facing the surface to be cleaned to act as edge cieaners.
  • cylindrical boss at each end of brushroll 42 can rotate within J- shaped protrusion 62 and thus, end bracket 52 may be pivoted downward relative to front housing 18.
  • Brushroll 42 can now be moved rearwardly, which frees belt 64 from toothed portion 68 of cylindrical roller.
  • End bracket 52 can be detached from brushroll 42 and cylindrical roller 88 can now be moved laterally out of front housing 18 through retaining slot 170 so that it can be cleaned. In this manner, brush assemblies 38 and 40 may be quickly and easily removed from base unit 10 for cleaning or any other maintenance that may be required.
  • Brush assembly 200 may be used within base module 10 in place of, for example, second brush assembly 40. Further, brush assembly 200 may be used with or without a first brush assembly.
  • Brush assembly 200 includes a housing 202 adapted to receive a plurality of brushes 204A, 204B 1 204C, 204D, 204E, 204F and 204G.
  • Housing 202 which can be of two pieces similar to the embodiment described above, acts as a retaining member retaining the brushes within the base housing. Housing 202 is similar to the housing sections 88 and 90 described above
  • Each gear brush 204 may be configured as a spur gear having, for example, ten teeth that intermesh, such that when gear brush 204D is caused to rotate, all other gear brushes are rotated accordingly.
  • each gear brush 204 includes a vertical axis of rotation with respect to the surface being cleaned.
  • the center hub of gear brushes 204 forms a hollow downwardly projecting cup 212 having a plurality of openings 214 circumscribing the bottom thereof.
  • Each gear tooth 216 has an upper tooth profile 218 and a lower profile 220 which approximates upper profile 218. However, profile 220 is smaller in size and slightly indented from profile 218, forming an offset. Only profiles 218 of gear teeth 216 are intended to drivingly engage the corresponding tooth profile of the adjacent gear brush.
  • Each gear tooth 216 includes a bristle bundle 224 extending downwardly from lower tooth profile 220.
  • Bristle bundle 224 is adapted to contact a floor surface such as a carpet wherein the rotating motion of gear brush 204 draws each bristle bundle 224 along the surface to effect cleaning.
  • stationary bristie bundles 225 may extend downwardly from the gear guard 202 and agitate the carpet as agitator assembly 200 is drawn across the floor.
  • Bristle bundles 224 may be of a soft texture so that when rotating and in contact with the surface being cleaned bristle bundles 224 bend whereby the bottom of projecting cup 212 is in contact with the surface being cleaned. The cleaning solution may then be dispensed through openings 214 and flow directly onto the surface being cleaned.
  • brushes are arranged in two offset rows.
  • a front row includes three brushes 204B, 204D and 204F.
  • a rear row includes four brushes 204A 1 204C, 204E and 204G. This staggered configuration advantageously results in greater overlap between adjacent gear brushes. This configuration allows the user to clean a carpet in fewer passes, resulting in a time savings.
  • FIGS. 12-15 another alternative second brush assembly 300 is shown.
  • Brush assembly 300 may also be used in base module 10, in place of second brush assembly 40 disclosed above.
  • alternative brush assembly 300 may be used with or without a first brush assembly.
  • two brushes (304E and 304K in this embodiment) are directly driven by a motor 313 and the remaining ten brushes 304A, 304B, 304C, 304D, 304F, 304G, 304H, 304I, 304J and 304L are operably connected with these two directly driven brushes. Because of the additional torque required to drive the twelve gear brushes, brush 304E connects with a first extension 310 and brush 304K includes or connects with a second extension 311.
  • Extensions 310 and 311 are coupled to, and rotated by, a motor 313 through respective gear reduction transmissions 326 and 346 and a worm gear 348 similar to the transmission described with particularity in FIG. 3.
  • the power transmission mechanism can be like that as shown in FIGS. 12 or 16, discussed below, having worm gear 336.
  • the housing 302 for the gears or gear guard 302 can include a plurality of alignment posts 303 that are received in a vacuum cleaner housing to align and laterally constrain brush assembly 300 relative to a vacuum housing (not shown).
  • Gear guard 302 may further include upwardly extending clips 305 that cooperate with receiving projections (not shown) in a vacuum housing to secure brush assembly 300 thereto.
  • Gear guard 302 further includes twelve spaced apart, integrally molded, cylindrical bearings 306A 1 306B, 306C, 306D 1 306E, 306F 1 306G, 306H, 3061, 306 J, 306K and 306L in two aligned rows.
  • brush gear 304E includes a first extension 310 and brush gear 304K includes a second extension 311. Extensions 310 and 311 are coupled to, and rotated by, a motor assembly 313 as will be described below.
  • Each gear brush 304 may be configured as a spur gear having, for example, ten teeth that intermesh, such that when one gear brush 304 rotates, all other gear brushes are rotated accordingly.
  • each gear brush 304 includes a vertical axis of rotation with respect to the surface being cleaned.
  • the center hub of gear brushes 304 forms a hollow downwardly projecting cup 312 having a plurality of openings 314 circumscribing the bottom thereof.
  • Each gear tooth 316 has an upper tooth profile 318 and a lower profile 320 which approximates upper profile 318 (see Fig. 13). However, profile 320 is smaller in size and slightly indented from profile 318, forming an offset. Only profiles 318 of gear teeth 316 are intended to drivingly engage the corresponding tooth profile of the adjacent gear brush.
  • Each gear tooth 316 includes a bristle bundle 324 extending downwardly from lower tooth profile 320.
  • Bristle bundle 324 is adapted to contact a floor surface such as a carpet wherein the rotating motion of gear brush 304 draws each bristie bundle 324 along the surface to effect cleaning.
  • Bristle bundles 324 may be of a soft texture so that when rotating and in contact with the surface being cleaned bristle bundles 324 bend whereby the bottom of projecting cup 212 is in contact with the surface being cleaned. The cleaning solution may then be dispensed through openings 314 and flow directly onto the surface being cleaned.
  • Brushes 304 are arranged in two aligned rows of side by side brushes 304 in each row.
  • the front and back rows each can include six gear brushes. It should, however, be appreciated that more or less than the disclosed number of brushes 304 may be employed, depending upon performance requirements.
  • Each gear brush 304 intermeshes with the gears directly adjacent thereto.
  • gear brush 304H intermeshes with gear brushes 304B, 304G and 304I. This configuration provides improved cleaning in a relatively small and compact arrangement. Specifically, as the brush assembly 300 is drawn across a floor each carpet area is agitated by at least two gear brushes. This configuration allows the user to clean a carpet in fewer passes, resulting in a time savings. [0067] Referring now to FIG.
  • FIGS 12-15 an alternative embodiment of an agitator assembly where a motor drives a first brush roll assembly and a second brush roll assembly from the same side of the motor is disclosed.
  • This alternative is particularly useful for improved operation of the agitator assembly with the gear brushes as shown in FIGS 12-15.
  • the first brush assembly 438 is similar to the first brush assembly 38 described above.
  • the second brush assembly 440 is similar to the second brush assembly 40 described above.
  • the first brush assembly 438 is driven by a beit 464 operatively connected to a motor 434.
  • second brush assembly 440 is operably connected to motor 434 via a gear reduction transmission 436, which is similar to the gear reduction transmission described above.
  • the difference between the embodiments shown in FIG. 9 and shown in FIG. 3 is that in the embodiment shown in FIG.
  • both spur gear 474, which drives belt 464, and a worm gear 542 are disposed on an output shaft 476 of motor 434 on the same side of the motor.
  • This can provide a more compact arrangement as compared to the power transfer mechanism shown in FIG. 3.
  • the power transfer mechanism shown in FIG. 3, however, can provide a more balanced overall assembly.

Landscapes

  • Nozzles For Electric Vacuum Cleaners (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention a trait à un agencement d’agitateurs destiné à une machine de nettoyage du sol, lequel agencement d’agitateurs inclut diverses configurations dotées de plusieurs agitateurs ou une configuration dotée d’un agitateur équipé d’une pluralité de brosses ayant des ensembles de poils permettant la rotation des brosses autour d’un axe approximativement vertical, plusieurs ensembles de poils fixes faisant saillie vers le bas étant disposés en au moins une rangée approximativement côte à côte avec ou sans décalage. En particulier, la présente invention a trait à des ensembles d’agitateurs dotés de multiples brosses qui tournent suivant un axe approximativement horizontal et suivant un axe approximativement vertical ou qui tournent à différentes vitesses et à différents couples. D’autres configurations peuvent inclure de multiples agitateurs à axe vertical à plusieurs rangées.
EP09728975.5A 2008-04-03 2009-04-03 Dispositif de nettoyage du sol doté de multiples agitateurs Active EP2271243B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US4209808P 2008-04-03 2008-04-03
PCT/US2009/039521 WO2009124278A1 (fr) 2008-04-03 2009-04-03 Dispositif de nettoyage du sol doté de multiples agitateurs

Publications (3)

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EP2271243A1 true EP2271243A1 (fr) 2011-01-12
EP2271243A4 EP2271243A4 (fr) 2013-06-19
EP2271243B1 EP2271243B1 (fr) 2015-01-21

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP09728975.5A Active EP2271243B1 (fr) 2008-04-03 2009-04-03 Dispositif de nettoyage du sol doté de multiples agitateurs

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US (1) US8800106B2 (fr)
EP (1) EP2271243B1 (fr)
CN (1) CN102159125B (fr)
WO (1) WO2009124278A1 (fr)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN102159125A (zh) 2011-08-17
CN102159125B (zh) 2015-06-17
EP2271243B1 (fr) 2015-01-21
EP2271243A4 (fr) 2013-06-19
WO2009124278A1 (fr) 2009-10-08
US20090265878A1 (en) 2009-10-29
US8800106B2 (en) 2014-08-12

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